St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-19
HUNTING FOR BEE TREES. q
How the Stores of Honey Are
Found in the Western Wilder


Found in the Western Wilder
ness.
In the great forests west of the MisSlS-
Sippi the wild bees swarm in countless
numbers, feeding on the luxurious vege-
tatiOn which skirts and interSects the
prairies all along the alluvial bottoms
of the rivers, and seeming to fulfill
literally the Bible description of ''land
flowing with milk and honey" says the
Independent. Hollow trees are taken
possession of by them and honey stored
in them in large quantities. Ii nothing
disturbS them, they remain in their old
quarters for long periods at time. lay
ing up stores of honey for their own
use. and. as is often the case, for the
bear or the white men in the long run.
The hunters who make business OF
collecting the honey are the most mercl-
less enemies that the little creatures
have. Unlike Bruin, who discovers a
hive of honey by chance, or through the
aid of his sensitive nose, the bee hunt
ers carry on their work Systematically.
Watching the habits Of the little
creatures while gathering honey from
the flowers, and then following them as
they return to their home through the
air. After an experience of a year or
two in the business, the hunters can To-
cate with wonderful accuracy the home
of the bees, notwithstanding the fact
that the hive is often Sitnatedii dense
forest, and in trees where no OF e 0uid
ever think of looking for honey. liTe
most other wild creatures, the bees be-
tray their hiding-place by their own ac-
tons.
M I.,.+or, Hafora ctortiOor ont in
quest of the rich booty, provide them
selves with the necessary equipments:
These consist of axes, rifles, matches and
a small piece of honeycomb. The rifles
are carried along for their own prOtec-
ton, in case the hunters should be
hunted by enemies other than honey
! bees. When an open glade near the
edge of the forest is reached, the piece
of hOneycomb is placed on low bush
where it can plainly be seen by the pass
ing bees. Its sweet aroma quickly nils
the air around it, and attracts the little
honey-gathererS toward it. Like miSe1
who has suddenly discovered treasure
of gold, they dive down into the little
cells and begin to Satiate their appetite.
Then, without suspecting the trap set
for them, nor stopping to inquire about
the strange phenomenon of honeycomh
growing on a bush, they dart away
through the forest to deposit their load
in the hive.
This is the hunters opportunity. No
ticing the direction i'll which the bees
fly, they quickly start in pursuit, keep
inc the little creatures in sight with
difficulty. Usually an old experienced
bee hunter takes the lead, and his eagle
like ewes can detect the small black
| specs in the air when the others have
entirely lost sight of them. Through
| dense clusters of brambles and over
wet and DOGGY ground they hurry, COM
pletely absorbed in the chase, and I'M
mindful Of all disagreeable surround
ings. They have to make bee-line
through the woods, and not stop to con-
slider whether there is better travelling
in another, but longer, direction.
Even the most expert leaders of hunt
ing parties will sometimes lose sight OF
the game, and the bees will escape with
out betraying the locality of their homes.
After wandering about in the woods fol-
a sufficient time, searching attentlVely
Oh every tree for a sign OF one or the
little creatures. the leader becomes sat
isfied that he cannot find the hive with
| out reSOrting to another trick. A small
box with a glass top is then produced,
which the hunters have caught round the
honeycomb before entering the woods
| One of these is allowed to escape from
| the box and the direction which it takes
| Immediately followed by the party. A
| walk of several minutes is then kept up
| the leader keeping his eyes fixed on q
| certain tree which he has marked i'll the
| distance. The others of the party glance
about them to discover signs OF the tree
| in which the hive is hidden.
| A second bee is then allowed to escape
| from the box. Instead of flying in the
same direction taken by the first one, il
| darts off to the right and purSueS q
course directly opposite TO that adopted
by its mate. This would be misleading
! to an inexperienced hunter, and he
would conclude naturally that either
| the bees were from different hives, OF
| the old saying about bees flying directly
to their homes when liberated Is al
''bOSh."
The leader of the hunting party, how
ever, understands the mute language OF
| the little insects. The party has passed
| the tree containing the hive and coun
termarch is Immediately ordered. Double
| precautiO mis- now taken to locate the
exact spot of the hive, and i'll very
| short time this is done.
But quite frequently it happens that
! the hunters, when in the immediate
| neighbOrhood of the tree, are unable tC
! distinguish the right one from the
others. The entrance to the bee castle
| is several feet above the ground. and the
! ewes of the hunters are unable TO see II
| unless attracted by the bees coming III
! and out in numbers. The third step OF
| the hunt is then taken, and the leader
knows that this cannot fail. A fire is
kindled and a piece Of hOneycomt
placed upon a warm stone. In few
minutes the honey begins to melt, and
the smell of it permeateS the all
throughout the forest, reaching even
the bees in their snug home. As re-
suit. the whole colony of bees begin tC
swarm out of their citadel and fly
around the fire from which the sweet
OdOr arises. UncOnsciously they have
disclosed their hiding-place. and the
| hunters Immediately mark the tree anC
prepare for work. The fire is allowed
| TO burn, and while the bees are busy
| gathering the wasted sweets the AK be
| gins TO make the echoes ring throughout
| the woods. As if still SuSpecting moth
! ing. the owners of the hive continue
flying backward and forward, entering
! and re-entering their home with theil
tiny loads of honey until the great tree
begins to tremble. A sharp, splitting
| noise startles the whole colony from
| their work, and before they have time
te ascertain the cause the huge tree
crashes downward, carrying withit bees
honey and all.